Month: January 2016

Last night over 1,000 public relations, media and celebrities gathered at Bungalow 8 for the annual Social Diary party. Social Diary, established in 2004, is warmly regarded as the ‘PR Bible’.

The theme this year was ‘REALITY’ – which guests took to extreme limits to represent. With over $15,000 in prizes for the Best Dressed, the competition was fierce. Social Diary founder Tiffany Farrington dressed as Big Brother’s ‘Social Diary Room’ which opened up to allow guests inside to record their ‘confessions’ broadcast live at the party on a huge screen. There were live crosses to various activations in the venue all night, meaning effectively all guests were part of a live streaming reality show.

There was a Voice/Idol/X Factor live karaoke booth, a special canape of gazpacho made & served by Sammy & Bella from My Kitchen Rules, Survivor entrance complete with huge crocodile (borrowed from Sydney Event Blogger), Tribal Council chill out area, a Big Brother bed and bars scattered around for guests to enjoy Vodka O, [Yellow tail] wines, Stella Artois, Sydney Cider, Ocean Spray and Aqua Botanical water. Guests could be made up by artists from the Australasian College of Natural Therapies, be served cocktails by the pilots from Trolley’d – a mobile bar made from an original Ansett trolley – or the Stolen Rum bar in a tiki hut.

A popular show of the night was The Bachelor, with WINK models providing gorgeous Bachelor boys adorned with scratch marks and kisses who threw out roses to the crowd. Guests lines up to have their photo taken in the Polite in Public photo booth which included an image of Tim Robards from The Bachelor as an animation handing out a rose.

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EMU Australia is delighted to announce the opening of their first world wide stand-‐alone retail store in collaboration with retail partner All Things Australian.

The store’s official opening was on January 28th, 2016, in the heart of the busy Sydney tourist precinct in the CBD.

Positioned near The Rocks and Circular Quay at 220 George Street, the store is situated at one of the main thoroughfares for commuters and tourists to and from the CBD. The store showcases a complete 365 day range of premium products including Spring/Summer, Platinum Australian, Beach, Balance, Originals and Waterproof styles.

Influenced by their Ever Natural surroundings, from natural textures and earth-‐inspired palettes, to local cultural influences, the store is the first of the EMU Australia brand identity. Fixtures include customised features such as the Pearl White Wave Wall that matches the wave patterns featured on the brand’s footwear soles, large placement TV screens and Ever Natural wood highlights.

Choosing Australia for the first global store launch was natural due to the birthplace of the brand – Geelong, Victoria. EMU Australia is available worldwide in over 70 countries and through 5000 stores, as well as emuaustralia.com.au.

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Merivale will be a feast for all the senses next month, when its annual food and wine festival returns for the eighth incredible year. Inspired by our most decadent and outrageous guilty pleasures, March into Merivale 2016 will take place from 14February to 20 March, with the spectacular launch party providing a tempting taste of what’s to come on Wednesday 10 February. For over five jam-packed weeks, bon vivants can indulge in world-class food, wine, cocktails and champagne from dozens of Merivale’s incredible restaurants and bars. Tickets to all events are on sale now from www.marchintomerivale.com.au

Justin Hemmes, CEO of Merivale, said: “Over the past seven years, March into Merivale has transformed from its humble beginnings into one of the most anticipated events on Sydney’s culinary calendar. Across five incredible weeks, the 2016 festival shines the spotlight on our diverse hospitality portfolio and celebrates the wealth of talent leading Merivale into our most exciting year yet”.

The March into Merivale 2016 programme includes:

LAUNCH PARTY: The Merivale Launch Party kicks things off on Wednesday 10 February, taking over the entire ivy complex and surrounding laneways. With pop-up stalls from world-renowned restaurants including Mr. Wong, The Paddington, Coogee Pavilion, est., Papi Chulo and the soon to be launched Queen Victoria Enmore, The Newport and Fred’s, alongside live music and roving entertainment, it’s everything people love about Merivale in one place, for one amped-up night. ($45 includes eight food and drink tokens, with top-ups available on the night).

MONDAY – SHOW AND TELL: Wannabe connoisseurs can get their kicks from a host of classes every Monday. Join celebrated pastry and dessert chef Lorraine Godsmark for a delicious and decadent night of chocolate (Chocsessive, 15 Feb, 14 March, $75); indulge in limited edition reserves with Villa Maria’s Josh Hammond and Merivale’s Franck Moreau (Wine Not?, 22 February, $45); learn the tricks of the Instagram trade from Insta-star DJ Dumpling, Dan Hong and Patrick Friesen (#Instaskills, 29 February, $45); and get inside the brains of Merivale’s talented design team – Justin and Bettina Hemmes, Kelvin Ho, Emilie Delalande and Amanda Talbot – to discover what it takes to create awe-inspiring venues that set the standard the world over (Style Me Merivale, Hosted by Neale Whitaker, 7 March, $45).

TUESDAY – FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS: Every Tuesday, dining devotees can rally their mates for the deal and meal of a lifetime, with a two-course meal, a drink of their choice and a few fun surprises at some of Merivale’s most-loved restaurants – Ash St. Cellar, Ms. G’s, Papi Chulo ($45 pp); Felix, Uccello, Bistrode CBD, The Paddington, sushi e ($55 pp); est. ($75pp).

WEDNESDAY SHOW-OFF:Food lovers can enter a new world every Wednesday with a host of spectacular showcase series:

· Between Two Buns, 17 February, Palings ($45): Which of the talented Merivale chefs makes the best burger? From a dozen entries, a panel of burger experts have whittled the naughty cheat-day treats down to six finalists. Guests can try each on the night and vote for their pick of the pack.

· European Laneway, Darling, 24 February, Ash St. Laneway ($45): With stalls from Felix, Ash St, Bistrode CBD, Lorraine’s Patisserie, The Paddington, Uccello and Palings, this fabulously frivolous event under the stars encourages all guests to embrace their Inner European and indulge in the pick of the continent’s food, wine and entertainment.

· A Night in Paris, 10 March, Ash St. Laneway ($200) – The Paddington’s Ben Greeno and Felix’s Nathan Johnson join forces for a long table Francophile fest under the stars.

· The Kitchen Table, 17 March, Uccello ($200) – Danielle Alvarez, Chez Panisse alum and head chef of the hotly tipped Fred’s, and Nadine Levy, home cook, author and wife of Rene Redzepi, share their passion for local, organic produce to create home-cooking at its finest.

FRIDAY – GUILTY PLEASURES: The UK’s biggest, boldest and brashest night hits Sydney, exclusively at March into Merivale for 5 weeks only. With outrageous DJs, cabaret performances and Chandon’s Unplanned Band this dazzling discotheque is a shameless celebration of the wonderful world of pop (every Friday at Palings, $20).

MYSTERY FEAST: Throughout the festival, adventurous diners can add a little excitement to their day by booking a Mystery Feast. From the grand dining room at est. to the edgy Potts Pott hangout Ms.G’s, guests could end up in any one of Merivale’s award-winning restaurants. (Dinner, $75 including three courses and three glasses of wine; Lunch, $35 including one course and one glass of wine).

#LIVELIFEUNPLANNED: Merivale fans can enjoy March into Merivale the unplanned way with the ultimate access pass. The $180 Chandon Unplanned Pass includes a Mystery Dinner and choice of any two events (events include Wednesday Show-off series, Friday Guilty Pleasures, Pacha Presents Absolut Nights or Coogee Foreshore Festival).

Throughout March into Merivale, head chefs across each of our venues will be introducing their own guilty pleasure dish to their menus – from Lorraine Godsmark’s chocolate caviar tart at the patisserie to Jeremy Strode’s seafood, tomato and turmeric curry at The Fish Shop.

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Sydney Festival’s Meriton Festival Village is the ultimate oasis of musical and theatrical delights, along with plenty of delicious eats, all in the heart of the city at Hyde Park. It’s the perfect place to kick back in the afternoons or kick on into the warm summer nights.

A great selection of food and beverages are available from 12pm and the licensed bars are open from 4pm. Food and beverages purchased at the Festival Village can be consumed while watching a musical or theatrical production.

On Friday 22 January 2016, I went to watch the theatrical production, Songs of the Fallen, and sampled a number of the James Estate wines at the James Estate Wine bar at the Meriton Festival Village.

Songs of the Fallen is a cabaret musical about the life of Marie Duplessis, the peasant-girl-turned-courtesan and La Traviata muse, who died at 23 from consumption.

James Estate wines are wines that are built on a foundation of quality, experience and a sense of “place” that encapsulates the lifestyle and creative spirit of the Hunter Valley.

James Estate grapes are grown in the region and made and bottled onsite. This means every part of the process is in the hands of our highly experienced and innovative winemakers.

James Estate spreads across two sites in the Hunter Valley – the Cellar Door in Pokolbin and Vineyard in Baerami, with plantings dating back to 1968.

This summer, while watching the Australian Open Tennis on the big screen, sip the popular Italian Aperol Spritz at the Winery’s new laneway garden pop-up bar.

This chic bar will be bringing chic Italian tennis vibes to the heart of Surry Hills. It will be serving Aperol Spritz from 3pm to 7pm daily for $10 a glass and $18 a jug from 14 January 2016 to 14 February 2016. An Italian classic, the Spritz is a refreshing citrusy mix of Prosecco, Aperol & Soda over ice. There will be two types of Aperol Spritz drinks: the classic Aperol Spritz and the Fanucci Spritz.

The bar will also be serving food to compliment the drink. Make your choice from the antipasto menu of porcini arancini balls with four cheeses, Andouille sausage with mustard fruit and buffalo mozzarella salad bites.

The Australian Open will be running from 18 January 2016 to 15 February 2016.

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Spectacular giant lanterns representing animal signs of the Chinese Zodiac will take over some of Sydney’s most popular locations as part of next year’s Sydney Chinese New Year Festival.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Lunar Lanterns, the first exhibition of its kind in Australia, will mark the 20th anniversary of the festival and its evolution from a small community event to the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside China.

“As Sydney embarks on a period of transformation, we are using this opportunity to revitalise and reimagine one of Sydney’s most-loved festivals to make it bigger and better than ever before,” the Lord Mayor said. Lunar Lanterns is a contemporary take on a centuries-old tradition, with some lanterns standing multiple storeys high, located throughout the city from Circular Quay to Chinatown from 6–14 February 2016.

Lanterns will flank the entrance to Circular Quay, transform the business heart of Martin Place and illuminate the bustling streets of Chinatown, allowing everyone to follow the trail to find their zodiac sign and bringing the summer nights to life in a uniquely Australian celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Lunar Lanterns will be one of the highlight events of Sydney’s Chinese New Year celebrations which will run from 6–21 February.

The festival will include favourite events like the Dragon Boat races, Lunar Feasts and more than 70 associated events.

The City is also planning a series of events to mark the 30th anniversary of Sydney’s sister-city relationship with Guangzhou. Since it began in Sydney, the City has produced 108 events for the Chinese New Year Festival, supported more than 600 associated events and hosted 10 delegations from China to be part of the celebrations.

The festival now attracts more than 600,000 visitors to more than 80 events across the city, also making it one of the most popular events in Sydney’s calendar.

Bring your family to Sydney Olympic Park this Australia Day and celebrate our national day with an action-packed schedule of FREE entertainment, activities and fireworks.

More than 6,000 people are expected to take part in the family-friendly festivities taking place at Cathy Freeman Park and presented by Sydney Olympic Park Authority and Auburn City Council.

The event will kick-off at 12noon on Tuesday 26 January with international food fare, family activities and live entertainment, before a fireworks finale just before 9pm.

Free carnival rides, crafts, sports clinics for kids, an animal farm and pony rides will provide the backdrop to a full entertainment program. Entertainment features live shows from professional musicians, local youth and multicultural music and dance performers.

An Official Ceremony will also start at 12 noon, and will include a Local Citizens of the Year awards presentation and a welcoming ceremony of new Australian citizens.

Paid parking is available at Olympic Park, but attendees are encouraged to use public transport. Free shuttle buses will be operating from Auburn and Lidcombe train stations on Australia Day.

The Australia Day Council of NSW is launching another big Australia Day program with a strong focus on celebrating and showcasing the rich and diverse culture that makes Australia unique.

The 2016 Australia Day program includes events that celebrate the many cultures that make up Australia including paying tribute to Australia’s traditional landowners and our newest citizens.

Minister for Multiculturalism, John Ajaka, believes Australia Day is about coming together and recognising our fortune as a nation.

“It is a time to reflect on what inspires us and to embrace the common goals that unite us – our commitment to a tolerant, free and democratic nation that allows each of us to succeed while respecting our individual differences,” Mr Ajaka said.

“It is also a time to acknowledge our Indigenous people and the significant contribution of our multicultural communities.”

Proud Australian and leading musical talent, Jessica Mauboy, will extend her role in the Australia Day celebrations not just with her performance at the free Australia Day 2016 – Live at Sydney Opera House event, but throughout the day, taking part in traditional cultural ceremonies.

“Australia Day is all about sharing our cultures and embracing what makes us unique. This year, I’m really proud to be taking part in some traditional ceremonies that pay respect and tribute to my ancestors, including singing the national anthem in Sydney language on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge while the WugulOra Morning Ceremony takes place at Barangaroo Reserve,” Ms Mauboy said.

Australia Day Council of NSW Chairman, Angelos Frangopoulos, believes Australia Day is an opportunity for communities across Australia to come together, regardless of background, in a spirit of friendship and harmony and celebrate what makes each of us Australian.

“This is the day when we stop and take time to celebrate our passion for our nation and highlight how fortunate we are to live here in this beautiful place,” Mr Frangopoulos said.

“This year’s theme, Australia Day – Everyone, Everywhere, allows us to share your Australia Day celebrations with the world, whether it’s a BBQ with friends and family, a day on Sydney Harbour or even a backyard game.

“This Australia Day, we’re inviting you to upload a photo or post to your social media channels using #AusDay to add your special moments to the global map on australiaday.com.au and see how everyone, everywhere is celebrating.

“We’ll also be adding some fun online with the Aussie Slang Challenge, testing how well you know your Australian lingo. It will be running from 1 January on australiaday.com.au.”

For more information about what’s on Australia Day 2016, go to australiaday.com.au.

AN OVERVIEW OF AUSTRALIA DAY 2016:

With the Australian summer in full swing, Australia Day on 26 January is almost upon us and there will be lots of exciting things happening in and around Sydney Harbour to explore.

SYDNEY HARBOUR

As early morning swimmers make splash as the Great Sydney Swim begins at Farm Cove, P&O Cruises will start the day bringing four of the world’s most impressive cruise ships, Pacific Aria, Pacific Eden, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl to join the celebrations on Australia Day

The much loved Ferrython will see Sydney’s beloved First Fleet ferries dressed and decorated to the nines as they make waves in Sydney Harbour before they make their final dash to the finish line under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

As the Ferrython winds down, take a couple of minutes to warm your vocal chords for the Salute to Australia at midday. Join in with seven choirs around Sydney Harbour and sing the national anthem as our armed forced combine efforts to pay tribute to Australia.

Front and centre of the Salute to Australia will be the Australian Navy’s largest ever flagship, the newly commissioned HMAS Adelaide, along with a 21 Gun Salute and an aerial flyover by RAAF Fast Jets.

Then for a shift in pace, move your attention to the middle of harbour as a graceful set of Svitzer Tugs, East Sail Yachts and helicopter squirrels dance for the popular Tug and Yacht Ballet, set to the music of Leo Delibes’ Pizzicato from the ballet, Sylvia, in an amazing display of nautical manoeuvring to a musical score that will be heard across the inner harbour area.

And for those who prefer to nestle in for the day and have the action come to them, the Cruising Concerts are the perfect solution. Two custom built floating stages will make their way around Sydney Harbour, dropping in to popular locations including Bradfield Park, Blues Point Reserve, Overseas Passenger Terminal, the Sydney Opera House and Barangaroo Reserve from 12:15pm onwards.

Entertaining the crowds on the Cruising Concert stages will be The Enormous Horns, an eight piece all singing and all dancing party band and Junkyard Beats, creating rhythms from around the globe by using everything from plastic buckets, kitchen utensils and angle grinders.

As we move into the afternoon, the Tall Ships Race will see some of Australia’s most majestic boats take to the harbour to compete in a race from Bradleys Head to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, followed by the world’s oldest annually conducted sailing event, the 180th Australia Day Regatta.

Celebrations will then turn to the skies for the Qantas flyover while the Russian Roolettes dazzle with their aerobatic display and the Red Berets demonstrate their marvellous parachute display over Sydney Harbour.

Boaties will show their true Aussie colours as they tour Sydney Harbour for the Australia Day Harbour Parade before flocking to Athol Bay.

The day will end in a bang with P&O Cruises hosting a fireworks display off a barge in the inner harbour.

AROUND SYDNEY HARBOUR

From 7:30am on 26 January, spectators can view the special WugulOra Morning Ceremony at Barangaroo Reserve or the Sydney Harbour Bridge which acknowledges Australia’s traditional custodians.

WugulOra is a Sydney area Aboriginal language word meaning “one mob”, and captures the essence of a ceremony to signify the special place that our Indigenous peoples hold.

The ceremony will include the Aboriginal flag raised with the Australian flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in honour of our nation’s first people, along with a performance of the national anthem, in language and in English, by Jessica Mauboy atop the Harbour Bridge.

At 11:45am at Sydney Harbour, more than 500 people, including children from the NSW Public Schools Choir, will participate in an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony under the guidance of Aboriginal elders.

With smoking ceremony taking place around the harbour, this traditional cleansing ritual acknowledges our ancestors and pays respect to the land and sea of Country, as well embracing the many different cultures that make Australia what it is today.

Head to the Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve and witness the culmination and demolition of Olivier Grossetete’s month-long cardboard construction the Ephemeral City and then check out Shaun Gladwell’s latest video artwork, Skateboarding v’s Minimalism. Or settle in to listen to the Cruising Concerts as they make their way through to Nawi Cove.

Stop past the Overseas Passenger Terminal to chill-out with your family and take advantage of the action on Sydney Harbour. With entertainment, food and the incredible waterside location, the Overseas Passenger Terminal will allow you to experience the best of Sydney Harbour while paying tribute to our cruising past.

At 11am, the Lord Mayor’s Citizenship Ceremony will take place at the Overseas Passenger Terminal to welcome our newest Australians from 20 different countries. Around the corner at Hickson Road Reserve, KIIS FM on the Harbour will see you get the best views of Sydney Harbour from the giant KIIS 1065 swing, complete with a photo booth, fairy floss and the KIIS street team.

Come and discover Sydney’s most spectacular sunset at Nawi Cove at Barangaroo Reserve and enjoy the Nawi Sunset Sounds performances on Dukes Pier. The three-hour line-up will include some of your favourite young Australian entertainers, with roving theatre performances around the cove.

To mark the end of the day, a special Sunset Ceremony will take place from 8pm at Barangaroo Reserve and say goodbye to grandfather – the Sun – in a traditional Aboriginal Sunset Ceremony.

Darling Harbour will be the spot to be with the best in home-grown music, dance and entertainment. The official NSW Australia Day Ceremony builds to the amazing Australia Day Spectacular, when a breathtaking display of pyrotechnics will light up Cockle Bay, set to a soundtrack specially produced and performed by Sneaky Sound System.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

The iconic Sydney Opera House will once again host some of Australia’s most talented artists on Australia Day, with two free concerts on the forecourt, The Wiggles Australia Day Concert and Australia Day 2016 – Live at Sydney Opera House.

The event is brought to you by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, The Wiggles will mark the milestone with their first concert of the year at The Wiggles Australia Day Concert. Families will be able to participate in the morning’s festivities, singing along with their favourite Wiggles as well as Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword.

The evening will see a tribute to Australia, with the Australia Day Creative Director, John Foreman, bringing together a collection of Australia’s brightest performers for Australia Day 2016 – Live at Sydney Opera House, including host Grant Denyer, Jessica Mauboy, Justice Crew, Kate Ceberano, Thirsty Merc, Cyrus, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Greta Bradman, Roy and H.G. and Bachelor Girl.

Tune in to Australia Day 2016 – Live at Sydney Opera House on Australia Day at 7.30pm AEDT on Tuesday, 26 January 2016, live and exclusive on TEN. * Please note, both concerts are already at 100% capacity and no further tickets are available.

SYDNEY CBD

The 27th annual GIO Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Race will see some of the world’s finest wheelchair athletes prepare for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, as they race around Alfred Street in the The Rocks in an incredible act of strength and endurance.

Just around the corner, take a stroll through the cobblestone laneways of The Rocks where The Rocks Markets will showcase some of Australia’s best local fashion, jewellery and art. Then saunter up George Street, enjoy the serenity of Sky Gaze, strike up some friendly rivalry at croquet and party on down to Lolo Lovina’s Caravan, where Triple J’s Hottest 100 is counting down.

Once you have explored the stalls, settle in for lunch with mouth-watering flavours from around the world whilst kicking back to listen to some home-grown Australian artists at two outdoor stages in The Rocks.

Or perhaps you’d prefer to head to Hyde Park North and check out Sydney Festival’s Festival Village with delicious treats and funky tunes by Soul of Sydney. Head there on one of Sydney’s Vintage Buses as the green and yellow double decker buses of yester year make their way from the Sydney Opera House to Central Station via Hyde Park, with nine stops including Macquarie Street, College Street, Elizabeth Street and Phillip Street.

A stellar line up of wines from the 2016 Sydney International Wine Competition (SIWC) will be available for two public tastings on Saturday 6 February at the Menzies Hotel Sydney.

The public tastings from the 36th Sydney International Wine Competition feature a record diversity of wine regions and wine varieties, with 100 different grape varieties and blends represented in this year’s Competition.

Wine lovers will be able to taste over 280 wines awarded TOP 1OO™, Blue Gold, and Gold medals, including 31 trophy winners.

The Sydney International Wine Competition is unique amongst wine shows in that wines are judged alongside food, making it the most relevant wine competition for consumers.

An international panel of 13 judges, led by Chairman of Judges Kym Milne, initially blind-tasted all the entrants, and then tasted the 400 leading wines alongside appropriately matched food to decide the award winners.

Chairman of Judges, Kym Milne praised the quality of this year’s entrants, singling out the impact of cool climate wines across a wide range of wine styles, particularly Riesling, Chardonnay and Shiraz varietals.

“This wine competition is all about providing the consumer with a range of wine options for a range of different dining situations, and I believe the competition has once again achieved this,” said Mr Mylne.

“A real diversity of wine styles, produced from an ever increasing range of grape varieties, has attracted Top 100, Blue Gold, Gold or Highly Commended status. It is pleasing to see not just diversity between the classes, but also within the classes, providing the consumer with some really interesting options of wines with which to experiment.”

Public tastings of the 2016 Sydney International Wine Competition award winners will be held on Saturday, 6 February 2016 at the Menzies Hotel, Carrington Street Sydney.